The manufacture method of a kind of fuel cell, its catalyst layer and this catalyst layer
[technical field]
The invention relates to calalyst layer of fuel cell, particularly a kind of manufacture method with fuel cell, its catalyst layer and this catalyst layer of catalyst carrier.
[background technology]
Fuel cell is by a kind of Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) that electrochemical reaction produces electric energy taking place, for accelerating the speed of electrochemical reaction, all be formed with a catalyst layer on the electrode, and with catalyst cupport on a carrier material.At present, the catalyst carrier of fuel cell adopts the material of high surface mostly, as material with carbon elements such as the carbon black of nano-noble metal powder and tool high surface or graphite are fully mixed, spread upon on the dielectric film after forming jelly, effective dispersing nanometer size noble metal, form the conductive catalyst layer of fuel cell, can improve catalyst performance and reduce cost.
The U.S. the 4th as bulletin on October 1 nineteen eighty-three, 407, No. 906 patent discloses a kind of electrode that contains the Pt/Pd electrocatalyst layers, this electrode comprises graphitization or the graphited carbon carrier of part, the carbon carrier surface is formed with Pt/Pd catalyst and hydrophobic polymer, and Pd content is 20~65wt% in the Pt/Pd catalyst.But although this conductive carbon material carrier has high surface and effective dispersing nanometer noble metal, the phenomenon that still can not avoid carbon granule to be agglomerated into piece in electrode layer takes place, thereby suppresses the activity site of fuel and oxidant arrival catalyst (as Pt).Industry claims this phenomenon to be " Pt is by latent problem " (Hidden Pt Problem), and it will cause the catalyst practical efficiency to descend, thereby influence electrode performance, finally reduce the efficient of fuel cell.
For solving catalyst by latent problem, the U.S. the 6th that on February 4th, 2004 was announced, 695, No. 986 patent provides a kind of eelctro-catalyst, it comprises nano-scale Pt eelctro-catalyst, a carbon black conductive carrier and silicon gel, it to the carbon black support modification, can strengthen the eelctro-catalyst activity by the silicon gel to a certain extent.But the silicon gel is easy to solidify, and with easier sclerosis after carbon black mixes, causes gas communication to be obstructed, and influences the electrode catalyst performance.
In addition, the catalyst carrier of utilizing other material to make electrode is arranged also, the 6th, 117, No. 581 patents of the U.S. of bulletin disclosed a kind of fuel cell electrode that utilizes conductivity zeolites as catalysts carrier material as on September 12nd, 2000.See also Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, anode 20 and negative electrode 22 (as shown in Figure 1) that fuel cell 10 comprises dielectric film 12 and lays respectively at dielectric film 12 both sides.Anode 20 and negative electrode 22 structures are identical, are example with negative electrode 22, and it has double-decker: one is carbon-coating 50, comprises graininess material with carbon element carrier 42 and load catalyst granules 40 thereon; Another layer is a zeolite layer 52, comprises particulate zeolite carrier 44 and load catalyst granules 40 thereon, and carbon-coating 50 is between electrolyte 12 and zeolite layer 52.Wherein have continuous duct between carrier, filled conductive material in the duct is as alkali metal ion or conducting polymer.This electrode catalyst agent carrier material is that material with carbon element is combined with zeolite facies, utilize zeolite to increase the catalyst dispersiveness, but it need the filled conductive material to realize the electric conductivity of electrode, will influence gas communication and diffusion, reduce catalyst and contact, and cause the active decline of eelctro-catalyst with fuel.
In view of this, provide a kind of reaction gas circulation of being convenient to, promote it to contact with catalyst, the calalyst layer of fuel cell that increases catalyst activity is necessary in fact.
[summary of the invention]
For solving in the prior art because the performance deficiency of catalyst carrier material, cause the fuel circulation to block, catalyst contacts not enough with fuel, thereby the problem that causes catalyst activity reduction, the object of the present invention is to provide a kind of reaction gas circulation of being convenient to, promote it to contact, increase the calalyst layer of fuel cell of catalyst activity with catalyst.
Another order of the present invention is to provide the manufacture method of above-mentioned calalyst layer of fuel cell.
The present invention further provides fuel cell with this catalyst layer.
For realizing above-mentioned first purpose, the invention provides a kind of calalyst layer of fuel cell, it comprises a tubular carrier and is formed on catalyst on the tubular carrier that wherein, this tubular carrier material is selected from tubular metal or tubulose electroconductive oxide.
Wherein, described tubular metal comprises metals such as Cu, Au, Ag, Ni, and the tubulose electroconductive oxide comprises TiO
2, V
2O
5, Co
3O
4, ZnO or WO
3Deng; Catalyst is selected from noble metal or its combinations such as Pt, Pd, Ru; The caliber scope of described tubular carrier is good with 20 nanometers~80 nanometers below 100 nanometers, and the pipe range scope is below 1 micron, and is good with 100 nanometers~500 nanometers; Catalyst particle size is 3 nanometers~20 nanometers, and it loads the shared mass percent content of body weight at pipe is 10%~20%.
For realizing above-mentioned second purpose, the invention provides the manufacture method of above-mentioned calalyst layer of fuel cell, may further comprise the steps: at electrode or bath surface deposition tubular metal or tubulose electroconductive oxide, to form tubular carrier; Again this tubular carrier is placed the solution that contains catalyst ion, and catalyst granules is separated out in tubular support surfaces, promptly form catalyst layer.
Wherein, described deposition adopts methods such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition (PVD) or electrochemical deposition.
For realizing above-mentioned the 3rd purpose, the invention provides a kind of fuel cell with this catalyst layer, it comprises an electrolyte; And the electrode that lays respectively at the electrolyte both sides, comprise anode and negative electrode; Wherein, have a catalyst layer on described electrode or the electrolyte, comprise a tubular carrier and be formed at catalyst on this tubular carrier, this tubular carrier material is selected from tubular metal or tubulose electroconductive oxide.
Wherein, described electrolyte is selected from proton exchange membrane, soild oxide, phosphoric acid, alkaline solution etc.;
Compared with prior art, provided by the present inventionly be used for metal or the electroconductive oxide that calalyst layer of fuel cell comprises nano tubular structure, has bigger serface, can be evenly dispersed catalyst particle effectively, help the circulation of fuel and oxidant and contact with catalyst, to reduce catalyst consumption, increase catalyst performance, thereby improve fuel cell efficiency.
[description of drawings]
Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing the present invention is described in further detail.
Fig. 1 is the fuel cell structure schematic diagram that contains electrode catalyst layer of prior art.
Fig. 2 is the local enlarged diagram of II partial structure among Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is the fuel cell structure schematic diagram that utilizes catalyst layer of the present invention.
Fig. 4 all is local enlarged diagrams of IV partial structure among Fig. 3.
[embodiment]
Seeing also Fig. 3, is the fuel cell structure schematic diagram that utilizes catalyst layer of the present invention.Anode 2 and negative electrode 3 that fuel cell comprises electrolyte 1 and lays respectively at electrolyte 1 both sides.With all be formed with catalyst layer 4 on electrolyte 1 contacted anode 2 and negative electrode 3 surfaces.Wherein catalyst layer 4 comprises tubular carrier (figure do not show) and is formed on catalyst on this tubular carrier.The used electrolyte of fuel cell of the present invention is selected from proton exchange membrane, soild oxide, phosphoric acid or alkaline solution etc., wherein, proton exchange membrane can be selected from perfluorinated sulfonic acid type film, polystyrolsulfon acid type film, polytrifluorostyrene sulfonic acid type film, phenolic resins sulfonic acid type film, hydrocarbon membrane etc., soild oxide comprises zirconia etc., and alkaline solution is selected from NaOH or KOH etc.When electrolyte was solid-state form, as proton exchange membrane or soild oxide, then catalyst layer also can form at electrolyte and the contacted surface of electrode.Present embodiment adopts Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, and then electrolyte 1 comprises proton exchange membrane.
Fuel 5 (as hydrogen or methyl alcohol) is fed to anode 2 earlier, flows to anode 2 lip-deep catalyst layers 4 again and also reacts thereon, is cracked into hydrogen ion (being proton) and electronics.Hydrogen ion is penetrated on the catalyst layer 4 on negative electrode 3 surfaces by electrolyte 1, and electronics flows by external circuit, can provide electric power to external loading.Simultaneously, oxidant gas 6 (as air or oxygen) is transported in the catalyst layer 4 on negative electrode 3 surfaces, combines with electronics and hydrogen ion then to form water.
Seeing also Fig. 4, is IV partial structure enlarged diagram among Fig. 3, catalyst layer enlarged diagram promptly provided by the present invention.Catalyst layer 4 of the present invention is positioned between electrolyte 1 and the anode 2 (figure does not show), and gas can be conducting to electrolyte 1 (as shown in Figure 3) from anode 2.Catalyst layer 4 comprises tubular carrier 7 and is formed on catalyst 8 on the tubular carrier 7.Wherein, this tubular carrier 7 is nanotube-shaped conductivity material, and extends axially anode 2 surfaces by electrolyte 1 surface.Nanotube-shaped metal can be selected from metals such as Cu, Au, Ag, Ni; Electroconductive oxide can be selected from TiO
2, V
2O
5, Co
3O
4, ZnO or WO
3Deng oxide.The caliber scope of nanotube is good with 20 nanometers~80 nanometers below 100 nanometers, and the pipe range scope is below 1 micron, is good with 100 nanometers~500 nanometers, helps fuel 5 smooth and easy circulation in catalyst layer 4.Catalyst 8 is selected from noble metal or its combinations such as Pt, Pd, Ru, and it loads the shared mass percent content of body weight at pipe is 10%~20%.Catalyst 8 is formed on the hollow tubular outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of tubular carrier 6, thereby can obtain the catalyst 8 of full and uniform dispersion.When fuel 5 along nanotube-shaped carrier 7 catalyst layer 4 of flowing through, catalyst 8 can fully contact with fuel, thus performance greater catalytic agent activity.
The present invention also provides the manufacture method of above-mentioned calalyst layer of fuel cell, may further comprise the steps:
(1) at electrode or bath surface deposition tubular metal or tubulose electroconductive oxide, to form the carrier material.When electrolyte is solid-state, during as solid-oxide or solid polymer electrolyte, nanotube-shaped carrier material can be deposited on electrode surface or bath surface; When electrolyte is liquid, during as alkaline solution or phosphoric acid electrolyte, nanotube-shaped carrier material then is deposited on electrode surface.Wherein, electrode surface is its surface that contacts with electrolyte, and bath surface is its surface that contacts with electrode.Deposition can adopt methods such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition (PVD) or electro-deposition.Metal material comprises metals such as Cu, Au, Ag, Ni, and electroconductive oxide comprises TiO
2, V
2O
5, Co
3O
4, ZnO or WO
3Deng.
(2) tubular carrier is placed the solution that contains catalyst ion, as chloroplatinic acid (H
2PtCl
66H
2O) solution is 7~9 o'clock at pH value, and constantly stirring state adds a certain amount of reducing agent (as methyl alcohol) down, and making catalyst is that the Pt atom is separated out, and is deposited on tubular support surfaces, promptly forms catalyst layer.
Wherein, the solution that contains catalyst ion also can adopt the corresponding metal salting liquid, is dissolved in then or is suspended in the alcoholic solutions such as methyl alcohol or ethylene glycol, make metal ion and polyalcohol generation reduction reaction, form nano-sized metal particles, it is deposited on tubular support surfaces, promptly forms catalyst layer.When reduction reaction takes place when, can add the predetermined metal salting liquid, can obtain the alloy type catalyst, as in platinum acid chloride solution, adding nitric acid ruthenium or palladium nitrate, can obtain to load on Pt/Ru or Pt/Pb type catalyst layer on the tubular carrier at last.
According to above-mentioned manufacture method, the caliber of nanotube-shaped metal of gained or electroconductive oxide is good with 20~80 nanometers below 100 nanometers, and the pipe range scope is good below 1 micron with 100~500 nanometers; The gained catalyst particle size is 3~20 nanometers, and it is 10%~20% at the shared mass percent of tubular carrier.